TOPIC:

I thought I'd post another of my medals to an old Natal colonial family - the Houston's (there are various branches of them throughout the Province) have been around since the mid 1850's. Gilbert Norton Houston was a farmer in the Polela/ Highflats/ Ixopo area and a Civilian Conductor with Natal Transport during the Boer War.

A question for the fundis on the Forum!

The above medal, according to the FMP medal rolls (WO100/216 page 156) earned a no-clasp QSA - this tallies with the medal itself which came without any clasps.

The above mentioned medal roll however, shows entitlement to Belfast/Tugela Heights/RoL and Laings Nek. this permutation of clasps pervades the majority of names on the roll and yet - again back to FMP - no others on the roll earned any clasps.

Is there a reason why clasps were denied these chaps?

Regards

Rory

They were, from memory, civilians, it went often went down to the way individuals were attested for service during the war, I've been rather puzzled by this sort of thing for a long time, Natal, in particular, but, you look at the DMT and TG Class E, a great many were actually engaged with the enemy during their period of actual wartime service, yet, very few received clasps, other than in error, simply because of the limitations imposed on them.

A really lovely and scarce medal, certainly not an example you encounter every day!

Rory wrote: I thought I'd post another of my medals to an old Natal colonial family - the Houston's (there are various branches of them throughout the Province) have been around since the mid 1850's. Gilbert Norton Houston was a farmer in the Polela/ Highflats/ Ixopo area and a Civilian Conductor with Natal Transport during the Boer War.

Rory.....

Is there any mention in the Important Decisions Book that has bee posted here??????

Mike

I have never ventured into the murky waters of the Important Decisions Book Mike - wouldn't know where to start!....